Westholme, Alexandra Road,

Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4LY

Tel: 01736 331961 Email: [email protected]

Cornish Pirates 52

Nottingham 17

22 January, 2022

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League / Cup

Championship Rugby Round 16

Stadium

Mennaye Field, Penzance

Attendance

1864

Home

Cornish Pirates 52

Away

Nottingham 17

Martin 'Woll' Woollatt

Who could have guessed that the Pirates had been six weeks without any Championship action? Certainly not a visiting Nottingham side, keen no doubt, to go one step further than their impressive showing last week – where they narrowly lost to title favourites, Ealing. And to be candid – for the thick end of an hour of this intriguing & entertaining clash – they looked perfectly capable of so doing. Particularly when this proceedings became loose and unstructured.

That said – a lively home side eventually run out comfy winners with an emphatic seven try display. A showing that arguably demonstrated their own credentials for a shot at finishing at the top of the pile.

It began well too which immediately gained a healthy sized crowds’ attention from the moment Bazalgette’s kick off was knocked on by the visitors. The young fly half incidently, making his first full start for the hosts.

The resulting scrum was dominated by the home pack – whose power gifted Harry a kick to the corner. Seven minutes later and the Pirates were 14 points to the good – courtesy of tries by eventual Man of the Match, Kiri Kiri & Andrew. Bazalgette’s boot reliably did the rest.

Nottingham clearly absorbed this early shock & awe, better than many onlookers no doubt perceived. Rather than going into any tailspin – it was the Archers who then picked up the gauntlet with some aplomb. Their response belied their current position in the contest as they audaciously took the game back to the Pirates – with no shortage of style and effectiveness.

Before the first quarter had ended therefore – they were back in it and only down by Hollingsworth’s missed first conversion attempt. Tries from Tweedy & Graham in the Old Western National Corner – off a combination of slick lineout execution and backs play – signalled that we had a great contest still to come.

No surprise then, to see the next twenty minute block produce a 3rd Pirates dot-down for Cutmore – a yellow card for Pirates’ Caulfield and plenty of further incident. Encouragingly it would be the hosts that finished the half creating chances – despite being one man down. A missed 35m penalty for an otherwise impeccable kicking display from Bazalgette – and Wedlake being stripped of the ball just 10m out from underlining another impressive Pirate move – being the notable highlights.

After taking our chance to gather breath at the break- Nottingham’s own ambition became clear from Hollingsworth’s restart. It didn’t however produce any points, which would prove ultimately decisive- and with the Pirates back to full strength – their fate looked increasingly precarious.

Boom! Wingman Wedlake cut an excellent line to nab the 4 try bonus point – and despite Notts’ own quick riposte with Stapley punishing some slack Cornish defence – it was the Pirates who now looked to have matters in hand.

Sirker’s 60m gain in territory from deep provider the marker. His impact ultimately lead to the binning of Nottingham’s Hall – and a decisive penalty goal for Bazalgette which stretched the lead back out to fourteen.

This advantage registered within Cornish ranks – who responded by cutting loose in some style. Patterson’s return from nigh on two years of injury woe coincided with this stamping of authority on proceedings. His first involvement created a second try for Kiri Kiri and from this point it was all one way. Cant & Duncan rounded off the afternoon’s entertainment – the former’s try a joy with some smart interplay with the always impressive Elderkin.

Tricky away days to Butts Arena & The RAG beckon. Come back from them with the spoils and who knows….?

Match Officials

Referee:

Dan Jones

AR1:

Dean Richards

AR2:

Ryan Collier

No:4:

Kevin Williams

The Line Ups

Cornish Pirates Starting 15

15

AJ Cant

( 22

Carwyn Penny)

68

14

Robin Wedlake

13

Rory Parata

( 23

Callum Patterson)

55

12

Joe Elderkin

11

Callum Sirker

10

Harry Bazalgette

9

Tom Kessell (C)

( 21

Rauridh Dawson)

63

1

Jack Andrew

( 18

Olly Adkins)

60

2

Tom Channon

( 16

Marlen Walker)

66

3

Sam Rodman

( 17

Alfie Petch)

51

4

Lewis Pearson

( 19

Cory Teague)

60

5

Danny Cutmore

6

Josh Caulfield

7

Antonio Kiri Kiri

8

Caleb Montgomery

( 20

Tom Duncan)

57

Substitutes

16

Marlen Walker

17

Alfie Petch

18

Olly Adkins

19

Cory Teague

20

Tom Duncan

21

Ruaridh Dawson

22

Carwyn Penny

23

Callum Patterson

Tries

Antonio Kiri Kiri

3

Jack Andrew

10

Danny Cutmore

23

Robin Wedlake

45

Antonio Kiri Kiri

56

AJ Cant

65

Tom Duncan

72

Conversions

Harry Bazalgette

4

Harry Bazalgette

11

Harry Bazalgette

24

Harry Bazalgette

46

Harry Bazalgette

56

Harry Bazalgette

65

Harry Bazalgette

73

Penalties

Harry Bazalgette

53

Yellow Cards

Josh Caulfield

32

Nottingham Starting 15

15

Jack Stapley

14

David Williams (C)

13

Jacob Cusick

( 21

Elliot Creed)

55

12

Morgan Bunting

11

Harry Graham

( 22

James Peachey)

65

10

Sam Hollingsworth

9

Sam Edwards

1

Aniseko Sio

( 17

Toby Williams)

51

2

Archie Vanes

( 16

Storm Hanekom)

75

3

Ben Betts

( 18

Liam Bishop)

75

4

Jose Andrade

( 23

Jacob Wright)

65

5

Callum Allen

( 19

Josh Poullet)

45

6

Carl Kirwin

7

Nathan Tweedy

( 20

Lewis Barrett)

57

8

Scott Hall

Substitutes

16

Storm Hanekom

17

Toby Williams

18

Liam Bishop

19

Josh Poullet

20

Lewis Barrett

21

Matt Marsh

22

Elliot Creed

23

James Peachey

Tries

Nathan Tweedy

14

Harry Graham

17

Jack Stapley

47

Conversions

Sam Holingsworth

18